Amritsar (National Times): In a daring show of military preparedness and technological superiority, the Indian Army successfully intercepted and neutralized a Pakistani air assault aimed at the revered Golden Temple in Amritsar on May 8. The attempted attack came amid heightened hostilities following India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
According to Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15 Infantry Division, the assault involved long-range missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including drones. Thanks to pre-emptive intelligence and swift deployment of modern air defence assets such as the AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, not a single target was breached.
“We had anticipated that Pakistan, having no legitimate military targets, would turn to symbolic and civilian infrastructure, including religious sites. The Golden Temple was clearly identified as a primary target,” said Maj. Gen. Seshadri.
The attack took place in the early hours of May 8, but was entirely neutralized due to a “holistic air defence umbrella” set up around the temple.
“Our alert Air Defence gunners shot down all enemy drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple, ensuring not even a scratch came upon the holy site,” he added.
The Pakistani offensive followed India’s punitive strikes against terror camps across the border in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. India’s strikes destroyed nine terror camps, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters in Bahawalpur.
In the midst of rising regional tensions, India’s successful deployment of cutting-edge defence technologies has reaffirmed the capability of its armed forces to defend both strategic and symbolic national assets.
